Sack: I am very disappointed —Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has said he is "very disappointed"
after being sacked as Manchester United
manager two years into a three-year contact.
"I am very disappointed to be unable to
complete our intended three-year plan. I believe
that the foundations are firmly in place to enable
the club to move forward and achieve even
greater success."

The 64-year-old had hoped leading United to
their first major silverware since the retirement
of legendary boss Alex Ferguson in 2013 would
persuade the club’s United States-based owners,
the Glazer family, to let him see out the final
season of his three-year contract.

A statement from van Gaal, posted on
Manchester United's website, said: "It has been
an honour to manage such a magnificent club as
Manchester United FC, and in doing so, I have
fulfilled a long-held ambition.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss
had lost the backing of many members of the
United squad, who were unhappy with his rigid
playing style and criticism of their mistakes,
while sections of the club’s fanbase had taken to
jeering him as they grew increasingly frustrated
with the team’s conservative tactics.

Van Gaal felt he was hard done by after United
suffered injuries to several key players and he
couldn’t hide his anguish at his premature exit. “I
am very disappointed to be unable to complete
our intended three year plan,” van Gaal said in a
statement released by United. “It has been an
honour to manage such a magnificent club as
Manchester United, and in doing so, I have
fulfilled a long held ambition. “I believe that the
foundations are firmly in place to enable the
club to move forward and achieve even greater
success.”

"I am very disappointed to be unable to
complete our intended three-year plan. I believe
that the foundations are firmly in place to enable
the club to move forward and achieve even greater success."